We’ve reached the point of the W-League season where The Football Sack picks apart the good and the bad of your club and see’s how they are travelling through the season.

The start to Melbourne Victory’s season was definitely one they would have liked to have been better after finishing premiers in 2018/19. With five games played, they sit sixth with a win, two draws and two losses.

Their season started on a low with a 3-0 loss to Sydney FC but they were able to secure a 3-2 win the following round against Brisbane Roar. In five games, Victory have scored four goals and conceded seven.

With seven matches to go Victory have to start turning around their season to be in contention for finals.

Areas of excellence: They had extra game time in AFC Championships in November and as a group have a strengthened bond between them despite heavy defeats.

Even with the on-field challenges, positivity pours from both the players and coach Jeff Hopkins, who publicly continues to highlight where the girls went well in each of their games this year.

The mindset and bond carried within the team is a key part of the success to Victory. The thing now is to find a way to translate the positivity off the field into positive play.

Areas in need of improvement: Victory need to be better in front of goal.

Captain Natasha Dowie has been most promising in front of goal, with two goals and a goal assist. It’s her teammates in the forward line that need to start stepping up and finding opportunities to convert.

The two girls need to start cohesively working with Dowie and provide assistance to her whether through goals or by creating opportunities. Dowie can not do it by herself any more if Victory expects to win matches.

GRADE: D

Outlook:

Victory do not look like the side to be crowned champions this season, let alone be able to defend their premier’s title from last season.

If they do however start playing consistent football there is potential to scrape through into the finals.

Victory’s season is not over, but it is very close to it if they do not pull their socks up.